1st I'd like to say, "I spend a great deal of time, sorting out folders, project folders, documents, audio samples, other projects, other files." This seems to be more of the way, "a computer operating system is designed," rather than, "how Sonar is designed."
Actually, we have no idea what the windows folder system would be like, if Microsofts could actually, "really and truly," re-write windows from the ground up now in 2012.
File management is definitely something we as music producers spend our time on. File management is definitely something, "Met Life, Hertz Rental Car, Delta Airlines, Swift Trucking, McDonalds, Coca Cola," spend a lot of time and $$ on.
I can just imagine the monthly IT Payroll over at Walmart and Target.
So what I suggest is, "use the date and time," when Sonar is asking you to name a project, and you do not have a song title. Just type in the date and time. If the project is going nowhere, and so many of them do, that is just the nature of music, then I suggest one of two thing: A. Immediately delete the project folder when you know it has died. B. Immediately archive your folder to a, "dead project," folder. I most for certainly do the latter.
Music production is very much about organization, and so is music, as music has been called out by many, "notes organized in time." Over the last 7 years that I have been producing, I've seen my organizational skills explode. Projects I make today, my mind never would have been able to comprehend years ago.
IMHO, check out your Sonar Preferences, study them, and get to know. Menu = Edit/Preferences. Here are the first set of settings that ought to be customized to support your workflow and your way of working. You set these up, "once," but may have to tweak certain things as you get more knowledge about production and how you like to work. Never be afraid to constantly have to tweak that latency for example. Things have gotten much better since the day I started producing but still, "you never know."
After a basic understanding of Sonar Preferences has been acquired, the next step is to explore the various workflow customization that Sonar allows..
1. Screensets
2. The ability to move blocks around on the control bar
3. Vst Plugin Management
4. Track management.
5. Browser file/folder display management
6. Project templates, track templates, and fxchain
And there might even be more, but I have only been using Sonar since June 2012. ( Although, I think its fair to say I have been producing for 7 years, so I have a good handle on DAWs in general. And also, I didn't want a crazy, "new DAW learning curve," so I purchased the Craig Anderton Vids back in June or July, and I bought the Sonar Power Book like a few weeks back as well. )
You may want to do this.. You may want to purchase the Sonar Power book, and the Craig Anderton vids. I don't know.. We all self educate differently, and we all have different goals for our music.
As far as screensets, track templates, project templates, and the other things I listed above.. I think it is imperative that they be use and explored. For example, I have three main project templates that I have created.
1.. Mastering
2.. Basic studio setup
3.. Mega Mix
I've got a growing collection of track templates and fx chains. All my screensets have been customized and locked.
All this stuff has to be dealt with, for anybody willing to get the winning hand over their software. You've got to whip these programs, or they will have you at their mercy...
Remember, "even though they are available to everyone." at the end of the day these are, "tools for the professionals."